This Week in Gluttony

These are the 10 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

From sushi for a cause to a falafel anniversary and an annual Brew-BQ, this week packs in the foodie fun. There's even CultureMap's very own Hello Summer Social, which is, of course, a can't-miss event. Don't worry, though, with Memorial Day around the corner, you'll have Monday off to recover from all the festivities.

Tuesday, May 23

Nicky's Week at RA Sushi
This 13th annual fundraiser benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and honors the life of Nicholas Mailliard — a child who lost his battle with pediatric cancer in 2005 at the age of 13. Nicky was the nephew of RA Sushi co-founder Rich Howland. When guests order from the special Nicky’s Week menu, 100 percent of the proceeds go to St. Jude to raise funds for research to help cure childhood cancers and other life-threatening illnesses. The event runs through May 28.

Wednesday, May 24

CultureMap Hello Summer Social at West Village
Benefiting Kidd's Kids, our Summer Social promises to be impressive as always. Sip cocktails from Gentleman Jack, nosh on bites from various West Village eateries (think Pok the Raw Bar, Taco Diner, Public School, and more) and enjoy lawn games and a photo booth. Tickets are $20 and the event lasts from 6-8 pm.

Ravenswood Wine Dinner at Jasper's Plano
The “Godfather of Zin” (Joel Peterson) is hosting this four-course dinner with expert pairings from the Ravenswood Winery collection. Courses include goat-cheese-stuffed quail, crispy seared pork belly, braised short ribs, and a red-wine ice cream sundae. Tickets are $125, and dinner is served at 6:30 pm. For reservations, call Shannon Tinsley at 972-673-0823.

Thursday, May 25

Come-As-You-Are Wine Dinner at The Grape
This month's dinner features samplings from the Rhone Valley paired with a three-course bistro menu. The dinner is hosted by Dionysus Imports and features a wine expert who speaks to each individual table about the wines selected. Dinner is $54, and you can make your reservations between 5:30-9 pm by calling 214-828-1981.

Farm Shed Dinner at Dallas Farmers Market
This month's dinner features food from Grow it Forward Farm in Edom, Texas. The menu includes boiled peanuts, fried green tomatoes, peach al pastor quail, pork tenderloin, and a cheese plate. Tickets are $70, and the meal is served at 7:30 pm.

James Beard After Dinner at Abacus
Celebrating executive chef Christopher Patrick cooking a “Dallas Decadence” menu for 80 guests at New York City's James Beard House, Abacus is re-creating the menu for a special wine dinner. The menu plans to focus on Texas products including buffalo, pheasant, and rabbit, and each course is paired with a Jackson Family Wine. Tickets are $125, and the dinner starts at 6:30 pm. Contact Stephanie Conder at stephaniec@abacus-jaspers.com for reservations.

Friday, May 26

Anniversary Party at Amsterdam Falafelshop
Celebrate the European fast-casual restaurant's first anniversary in Dallas with live music on the patio; $1 pint beers; $1 falafel bowls and sandwiches; $1 off Shawarma bowls and sandwiches; and a raffle with chances to win catering trays, gift cards, and more. The celebration lasts from 4-7 pm.

Friday Night Foodie Tour at Dallas Farmers Market
Food Tours of America brings its Friday Night Foodie Tour to Dallas, featuring five generous, artisanal food tastings from local restaurants, as well as time for shopping and socializing. The host narrates each tasting course, sharing the relevance of Dallas Farmers Market, along with foodie trivia and the best bits and bites of Dallas history that will surprise even longtime local residents. Optional upgrades for this event include red or white wine by the bottle. Tickets are $79 and the event starts at 6:30 pm.

Sunday, May 28

Brew-BQ at Deep Ellum Brewing Company
When Deep Ellum Brewing Company was still just a dream, it threw a small party in a parking lot near the brewery to get to know its future neighbors and get some feedback on its first batches of beer. That party was Brew-BQ, and it's been a tradition ever since. Expect games, music, barbecue, beer, and community. Tickets are $35, and the fun starts at 6 pm.

Dallas Margarita Meltdown at West End
Competitors concoct their finest margarita and offer samples. Tickets start at $35 and include a sampling card, which allows you to sample, taste, and vote for your favorite margarita from each participating establishment. Think Yucatan Taco Stand, Iron Cactus, Fat Rabbit, Truck Yard, and more. The event lasts from 4-9 pm.

Eat at RA Sushi during Nicky's Week and 100 percent of items ordered from the special menu go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Photo courtesy of Sushi Axiom

Eat at RA Sushi during Nicky's Week and 100 percent of items ordered from the special menu go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

event-planner

Where to Drink

Where to drink in Dallas right now: 5 new happy hours for February

Even Coast

The Frozen John D at Even Coast.

The February edition of Where to Drink, CultureMap's monthly column on restaurants and bars you can get a drink at, travels far and wide to find the best and most exotic happy hours around: From sushi deals in downtown Dallas to $5 margaritas in Collin County to Indian bar bites in Irving.

(If you're in a more date-night frame of mind, be sure to consult our list of places where you can share a sweet Valentine's Day meal.)

Here are five happy hours to try in February:

Cafe Gecko
Laid-back perennial favorite in Richardson has just unveiled a brand new happy hour menu featuring their delectable versions of classic bar food treats including pizza fries, pretzel bites, chicharrones, onion rings, and fried pickles, priced from $5-$7, plus $1 off everything in the bar. It's served Monday all day, and Tuesday-Friday from 3-7 pm.

Dozo Omakase
Omakase sushi restaurant which opened a year ago at Trinity Groves with a compact menu that includes the trendy multi-course omakase style of dining, available in small or large versions. They do a cool approach to happy hour by introducing a new menu nearly every month. For February, it includes items from the sushi bar and the kitchen including half-price nigiri, sushi hand rolls for $8, gyoza for $6, crispy rice tuna for $10, and miso soup for a bargain $2.50. Cocktails include sake for $9 and a Kyoto highball cocktail for $11.

Even Coast
Neighborhood restaurant from chef Omar Flores opened on the Addison-Dallas line in 2024 with seafood, pastas, and steaks — and now happy hour. It's a good one, served from 2-6 pm every day with its own menu of $3 oysters, $10 cheeseburgers, and salmon dip. House cocktails are $9, including a rotating flavor frozen drink; a pint of beer is $6, and wine by the glass is $9. The only restriction is where: On Friday-Saturday, it's available only at the bar; Sunday-Thursday, it's also available in the dining room and on the patio.

Neon Cactus
Congenial Mexican restaurant in Fairview has a happy hour with deals that surely seem worth driving for: They run Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm and include margaritas for $5, domestic beers for $4, wine by the glass for $5, and well drinks for $4. They also have daily food specials that run all day, such as queso blanco and chicken tinga flautas, $10 each on Thursdays, and taco plates with rice and beans, $10 to $12 on Tuesdays.

Nirvana
Sultry Indian lounge at Toyota Music Factory with DJ, dance floor, and rooftop patio has what may be the worst website in the world — but buried beneath the PTSD flash graphics and music is a worthy happy hour, served from 4-7 pm featuring $2 off all cocktails, including the Hunan Heatwave with tequila and tandoori pineapple, and the Beijing Berry mocktail with mixed berries and ginger ale. Plus Indian-themed bar snacks such as "drums of heaven" AKA chicken lollipops; street-style chow mein, and crispy chili corn.

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